Ladder step



LADDER STEP Filed Oct. 9, 1967 FlGi' FIG. 2

IN VENTORS ROCCO J. PLATI NO J HN L LOMBARDO ATTORNBJ United StatesPatent 3,454,132 LADDER STEP Rocco J. Platino, 308 E. Chestnut St., andJohn L. Lombardo, 111 S. Lincoln Road, both of East Rochester, N.Y.14445 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,653

' Int. Cl. E06c 7/16 US. Cl. 182-121 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURETo permit a man to stand erect on a ladder, a platform or step isprovided having a plurality of clips or grips for releasably supportingthe platform on adjacent rungs of a ladder, when the ladder is in use.Two spaced grips project downwardly from opposite ends, respectively, ofthe platform adjacent its forward edge to straddle one rung of theladder, a leg or brace projects downwardly from the platform medially ofits rear edge, and a flexible half-round foot on the lower end of thebrace releasably supports the platform from the next lower rung of theladder.

This invention relates to ladders, more particularly to a removable stepor platform, which is attachable to the rungs of a ladder, when theladder is in use, to form a generally horizontal support upon which aperson may stand safely.

Most ladders, and particularly extension ladders, have circular rungs,which form the steps of the ladder. These rungs can be veryuncomfortable for the person who must stand thereon for any extendedperiod of time during the use of the ladder. Moreover, because the rungsare circular in cross section, they present very little surface area forcontact with the shoes of the person standing on the ladder, so that itis quite easy for ones foot, or feet, to slip from the rungs. For thisreason also, it is difficult for one using the ladder to lean very farfrom one side or the other of the ladder.

Efforts have been made to obviate these disadvantages by changing therungs of the ladder. The conventional collapsible stepladder, forexample, has flat steps or treads, but it cannot be made conveniently inheights much above twelve to fifteen feet. Removable stands or platformsupon which the user of a ladder may stand, have also been developed, buthave not proved satisfactory.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a removable step orplatform, which may be attached to a conventional ladder having circularrungs, to provide therefor, when the ladder is in use, a flat, generallyhorizontally disposed support upon which the person using the ladder maystand safely and comfortably.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removv,

able step or platform of the type described, which is substantially lessexpensive and more compact than prior such steps.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from recital of the appended claims, particularly whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a removable ladder step made inaccordance with one embodiment of this invention, and illustrating inphantom by broken lies part of a ladder upon which the step is adaptedto be mounted; and

FIG. 2 is an end view of this step, the ladder again being shown inphantom by broken lines.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, the removableladder step or platform 10 comprises a rigid, rectangular frame 12around a central rectangular "Ice opening 14. Secured on top of frame 12by conventional screws 16 and nuts 17 is a flat plate or board 18.Secured to the bottom of frame 12 adjacent the front thereof to projectdownwardly therefrom adjacent opposite ends thereof, respectively, aretwo pairs of identical, spaced, laterally aligned blocks 20 and 22,respectively, which constitute clips or grips.

Secured at its upper end to the bottom of frame 12 rearwardly of theblocks 20 and 22, and substantially medially of the rear edge of theframe, is a leg or brace 26, to the lower end of which is fixed aflexible half-round shoe or socket 28, which may be made of rubber andwhich in cross-section is inverted U-shaped in configuration.

In use the forward edge of frame 12 is positioned over one rung R of aladder L, so that each pair of blocks 20 and 22 straddles this rungadjacent opposite ends thereof. The flexible shoe 28 is then engagedover the top of the next lower rung R in the ladder, so that the plate18 will be disposed substantially horizontally, when the ladder is inuse. In this position the person using the ladder can stand on the board18 safely and comfortably. Moreover, the step 10 can be shifted upwardlyand downwardly on the ladder for support by any two adjacent rungsthereof.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the instant inventionprovides a relatively simple and inexpensive step, or platform, whichobviates much of the discomfort and risk heretofore associated withextension ladders and the like. Step 10 utilizes, in essence, threepointloading, since its legs transmit part of the weight of the personthereon to the center of the rung engaged by the shoe 28, and part toopposite ends, respectively, of the next higher rung on the ladder. Theflexible shoe 28 is somewhat larger than the diameter of a rung toprovide enough play to permit the shoe 28 to fit differently sizedrungs; and the blocks 20 and 22 of each pair are spaced far enough apartto accommodate therebetween any conventional ladder rung. Hence, thedevice can be used on ladders having different sized rungs. Moreover,although not illustrated, it will be apparent to one skilled in the artthat the leg 26 may be made longitudinally adjustable by anyconventional means to suit the distance between adjacent rungs of theladder upon which the step is to be mounted.

A principal advantage of the invention herein is that the major portionof platform 18 projects rearwardly and beneath the upper end of theladder when in use. Thus, only a small portion of the platform 18projects outwardly (to the left in FIG. 2) into the path of travel ofthe person moving up or down the ladder, therefore providing minimuminterference with such travel.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1 A removable step for use on a stepladder, com- PIlSlIlg a rectangularframe,

two pairs of spaced blocks extending vertically downwardly from oppositesides, respectively, of said frame adjacent and parallel to the frontedge thereof, with the blocks of one of said pairs being laterallyaligned with the blocks of the other of said pairs,

a rigid :brace secured at its upper end to the underside of said framesubstantially medially of the rear edge of said frame, and extendingdiagonally beneath said frame in a plane disposed medially of the sidesof said frame,

an inverted, U-shaped socket member secured to the bottom of said brace,and

a plate secured on top of said frame,

said socket member being releasably engageable over one rung of aladder, and said two pairs of blocks being engageable in straddlingrelation with the next highest rung of the ladder, thereby to supportsaid plate generally horizontally above Said next highest rung with themajor part of said plate disposed at the rear of said ladder when theladder is in use,

the distance between said pairs of blocks and the rear edge of saidplate being substantially greater than the distance between said pairsof blocks and the front edge of said plate, whereby said plate defines astep at the rear of said ladder of substantial dimension for a person tostand on, when said step is in use. 20

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Higgins 182121 Lynch 1821'2lLucas l82-121 Harding 1 82-121 Maran 182121 White 182-121 REINALDO P.MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

